Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-29

the horses nave hdd tnelf resi- we bnall
never be happy away from each other"
Having expressed her sentiments, distrib-
uted her greetings, and defended her dog
all, as it were, IN one breath-Lady Lydiard
sat down by lsabel's side and opened q large
green fan that hung at her girdie. ''Sogs-
have no idea Miss Pink, how fat people
suffer in hot weather. said the old lady,
using her fan vigorously.
Miss Pink's eyes dropped modestly to the
ground -"fatp was such a coarse word to use,
if a lady must speak Of her superauous flesh!
MAY | offer some refreshments Miss
Pink asked, mincingly. "A cup Of tear
Lady Lydiard shook her head.
"A glass Of waterW
Lady Lydiard declined this last hosptable
proposal with an exclamation of disgust
''Have you got any beerp she inquired
II beg your ladyship's pardon said Miss
Pink doubling the evidence of her own ears,
"Did you say-beerp
Lady Lydiard gesticulated vehmently with
her fan Eyes, to be sure Beerl beerl"
Miss Pink rose, with countenance expires.
sive of genteel disgust, and rang the bell
81 think you have beer downstairs, Susanp
she said when the maid appeared at the door
Eyes, miss
"a glass of beer for Lady Lydiard,n said
Mss Pink, under protest
Bring it in a Jug shouted her ladyship,
as the maid left the room. 81 like to froth it
up for myself she continued, addressing
Miss Pink. Isabel sometimes does it for me,
when she is at home; don't you, my dearP
Miss Pink had been waiting her opportu
nifty to assert her own claim to the possession
of her own niece from the time when Lady
Lydiard had coolly declared her intention of
taking Isabel back with her The opportu-
nifty now presented itself.
''Your ladyship will pardon me" she said,
eff 1 remark that my nieces home is under
my humble roof am properly sensible,
hops, of your kindness TO Isabel but while
she remains the object of disgraceful sus-
picion, she remains with me-"
Lady Lydiard closed her fan with an angry
snap.
You are completely mistaken, Miss Pink.
Yea may not mean It, but you speak most
uniustly if you say that your niece is an OBJ
iect of suspicion to me or to anybody in my
| house -
Mr.. Troy, quietly listening up to this point
now interposed to stop the discussion before
~ -bliNi ANt llAb tihilItls Ilio httl
! observation, aided by his accurate know
edge of his clients character, had plainly re-
vealed to him what was passing in Lady
| Lydiar1's mind. She had entered tho house
feeling perhaps unconsciously) jealousy Of
Miss Pink as her predecessor in Isabel's affec
tions and as the natural protectress of the
! girl under existing circumstances. Mis-
Pinks reception of her dog had additionally
irritated the old lady. She had taken a mali
cious pleasure in shocking the school mis-
tress' sense of propriety, and she was now
only too ready to proceed to further ex
tremties on the delicate question of Isabel.
justification for leaving her house. Fol
Isabals own sake, therefore-to say NOTHING
of other reasons-it was urgently desirable
to keen the peace between the two ladies
With this excellent object in view, Mr. Troy
seized his opportunity Of striking into the
conversation for the first time.
pardon me, Lady Lydiard," he said
"you are speaking Of a subject which has
been already sufficiently discussed between
Miss Pink and myself | think we shall dc
better not to dwell uselesSly on past events
but to direct our attention to the future
We are all equally satisfied of the complete
rectitude of Miss Isabel's conduct and We
are all equally interested in the vindicatioI
of her good name"
Whether these temperate words would OF
themselves have exercised the pacifying in
fluence at which Mr.. Troy aimed may be
doubtful But, as he ceased speaking, I
powerful auxiliary appeared in the shape o
the beer. Lady Lydiard seized on the jug
and filed the tumbler for herself with al
| ,,,,efaoItr hand Misc piply h1i,,rr 20
the integrity of her carpet, and scandalizeC
at seeing peeress drinking beer like wash
erwor1an, forgot the sharp answer that wa
Just rising to her lips when the lawyer inter
fered "Smalll" said Lady Lydiard, settinl
down the empty tumbler and referring t,
the quality of the beer "But very pleasan
and refreshing What's the servants name
Susan2 Well, Susan, was dying of thirst
and you have saved my life. You can leav
the jug; | dare say | shall empty it befor
| 60"
Mr.. Troy, wa itching Miss Pinks face, saw
that it was time to change the subject again
did you notice the old village Lady Lyd
lard on your way herep he asked. 9Th
artists consider it one of the most picturesqu
places in England"
Il noticed that it was a very dirty village,
Lady Lydiard answered, still bent on maxim
herself disagreeable to Miss Pink "The arr
lists may say what they please see nothin
to admire in rotten cottages and bad drain
age and ignorant people | suppose tn
neighborhood has its advantages. 1t look
dull enough, to my mind
Isabel had hitherto modestly restricted he
exertion3 to keeping Tommie quiet on he
lap. Like Nj. Troy, she occasionally locke
at her aunt and she now made timid al
tempt to defend the neighborhood, as dut
she owed to Miss Pink.
COB, my ladyl don't say it's dull neigl
borhood. she pleaded. "There are such pre-
ty walks az. round u.s. And when you get I
the hills the view is beautiful
Lady Lydiard's answer to this was lit
masterpiece of good-humored contemp
! She patted Isabel's cheek, and said, Pool
: poohln
Your ladyship does not admire the beal
ties of nature, Miss Pink remarked, with
compassionate smile. GAS we get older, l
doubt our sight begins to fail"
, And we leave off canting about the boai
ties of nature" added Lady Lydiard.
hate the country. Give me London, and IL
; pleasures of society"
u ''Comel come Do the country justic
d Lady Lydiard" put in peace-mal1ing NJ
Troy. There's plenty of society to be -four
out If London--as good society as the worl
can show
; "The sort Of society" added Miss Pin
4 (which is to be found, for example, In tn
neighborhood Her iadyship is evidently NJ
- \